Luis Batista Salas,Esq. Chairman WBO Championship Committee
February 4th 2019

VIA EMAIL: 

MICHAEL P. ALDEGUER  ALA PROMOTIONSGUY TAYLOR  ROY JONES JR.  BOXING PROMOTIONS  

Re: WBO Jr. Bantamweight Championship Contest Donnie Nietes vs. Aston Palicte 

Gentlemen:


Please be advised the parties have fifteen (15) days upon receipt of this letter to negotiate and reach an agreement regarding the WBO Jr. Bantamweight Championship Contest between Donnie Nietes and Aston Palicte. If an accord is not reached within the time frame stated herein, a Purse Bid will beordered pursuant to the WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests.


The minimum acceptable bid for the WBO Jr. Bantamweight Division is One-Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00). Any of the parties involved may request a purse bid procedure at any time during the negotiation process. 

Yours truly,  
Luis Batista Salas, Esq. (Chairman WBO Championship Committee)  


Cc: Francisco Valcárcel, Esq. (WBO President) 

*Attached the negotiation letter* 

DONNIE NIETES OUTPOINTS KAZUTO IOKA BY SPLIT DECISION, WINS WBO JUNIOR BANTAM TITLE

Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire Jr., and now Donnie Nietes.

Nietes joins a short list of Filipino boxers to have world titles in at least four divisions, capping off 2018 with a split decision victory over Kazuto Ioka to win the vacant WBO junior bantamweight title at the Wynn Palace Cotai in Macau.

Two judges scored the fight for Nietes, 118-110 and 116-112, while the third had it 116-112 for Ioka, whose own bid to become a four-division champion was foiled in the defeat.

Nietes, 36, of Murcia, Philippines controlled the fight early on, walking Ioka into counterpunches with his uppercut and right hand. Ioka, 29, of Osaka, Japan made the adjustment of moving in the fifth round, forcing the fighter known as “Ahas”, or Snake, to come forward. The adjustment paid off as Nietes, who had been pinpoint accurate early on, began falling short with his counters and Ioka took advantage of his speed edge and landed to the body.

Nietes began finding his range again in the eleventh as Ioka stayed in close and traded more, giving Nietes opportunities to land with his right hand and hook.

Donnie Nietes has done it! Nietes wins a split decision over Kazuto Ioka by scores of 118-110 and 116-112, while the third has it 116-112 for Ioka. Nietes joins Pacquiao and Donaire as the only Filipino boxers to win world titles in 4 weight classes

With the win, Nietes (42-1-5, 23 knockouts) adds to his belt collection which includes the WBO titles at 105 and 108 pounds, the Ring title at 108, and the IBF belt at 112 pounds. The victory concludes off a breakout year for Nietes which started with him making his HBO debut in his 18th year as a professional, and making it to the Ring pound-for-pound list, where he’s currently ranked no. 10.

Nietes had been denied the 115-pound title in his first attempt with a controversial draw against Aston Palicte in September.

Ioka (23-2, 13 KOs) loses for the first time in four years, snapping a nine-fight winning streak after his loss, also by split decision, to Amnat Ruenroeng.

BY RYAN SONGALIA / Philip Fong, AFP
https://www.ringtv.com/551849-donnie-nietes-outpoints-kazuto-ioka-by-split-decision-wins-wbo-junior-bantam-title/

Officials for Nietes-Ioka WBO Title Fight

The World Boxing Organization (WBO) headquartered in the Island of Enchantment, Puerto Rico, has assigned Las Vegas Hall of Fame referee Robert Byrd, 75, as the third man in the coming clash for the vacant WBO Jr. Bantamweight title between world-class Filipino fighter Donnie ” AHAS ” Nietes, 36, and Japanese star Kazuto Ioka, 29, an intriguing battle between two 3-division world champions set for New Year’s Eve at the plush Wynn Palace Cotai in the startling “Las Vegas of Asia,” Macao.

Inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006, Robert Byrd was the third man in last year’s blockbuster tiff between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor.

Incidentally, on fight day, December 31, the experienced Robert Byrd will be celebrating his 76th birthday. Advance Happy Birthday, Sir.

It will be the fourth time that the WBO assigns Byrd as a referee in a Donnie Nietes (41-1-5, 23 KO’s) world title fight. In 2011, he was the third man in Nietes-Garcia Hirales in Bacolod; and in 2014, Byrd worked again as the referee in Nietes-Fuentes II and also in the Nietes-Velarde rumble.

However, it will be the first time that the well-known Byrd works in a fight of Kazuto Ioka (23-1, 13 KO’s), one of the most popular boxers in Japan today.

In addition to being the third man for the Donnie Nietes-Kazuto Ioka clash, Robert Byrd will also work as the referee in the fight of Hong Kong rising-star Raymond Poon Kai Ching (6-1, 3 KO’s) as the hard-hitting 22 year-old 108-pounder battle for the vacant WBC ABCO Light Flyweight title.

Finally, the fight supervisor for the Donnie Nietes vs Kazuto Ioka rumble will be WBO Vice President Leon P. Panoncillo Jr., of Hawaii; while the ringside judges will be: Levi Martinez of New Mexico, Patricia Morse Jarman of Las Vegas and Samuel Nieto of Panama.

By Carlos Costa / PhilBoxing.com

BOXING sensation Donnie ‘Ahas’ Nietes of Negros Occ. will face Kazuto Ioka of Japan for the WBO world Jr. Bantamweight belt in Macau on New Year’s eve.

According to Nietes’ promoter Michael Aldeguer of ALA Boxing Promotions, the world title fight between Nietes and Ioka is “a done deal.”

The native of Murcia, Negros Occidental holds an impressive win-loss-draw card of 41-1-5 (including 23 knockout wins) while the 29-year-old Ioka sports a 23-1-0 record with 13 stoppage victories

“It won’t be an easy fight either way, but Donnie (Nietes) has always been confident. He has beaten everyone, including world champions,” Aldeguer said in an interview with Ring TV.

He added that Ioka is a bigger name who comes from a respected country like Japan.

But Aldeguer said Nietes wants the biggest fights out there (instead of fighting a fellow Filipino) and this fight (with Ioka) is a step toward that.

Nietes failed to get his fourth world title after a split draw with fellow Negrense Aston Palicte in their world super flyweight bout in California two months ago.

https://thedailyguardian.net/sports/nietes-to-face-japanese-boxer-in-macau-match/

Panamá – Como parte de la Trigésima-Primera Convención de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB), hoy se estuvo celebrando en el Hotel El Panamá, la reunion del ‘Comité de Campeonato y Clasificaciones’ del organismo mundial.

Puntos destacados:

El campeón mundial peso Mini Mosca (105 libras) Vic Saludar (18-3, 10 KOs) de las Filipinas, pronto sabrá contra quién defenderá su título mundial.

Para el viernes, 7 de diciembre en Puerto Rico, el campeón de la NABO, Wilfredo ‘Bimbito’ Méndez (11-1, 4 KOs) de Puerto Rico y clasificado #7 por la OMB, regresará al cuadrilátero contra el clasificado número 1 de la OMB, Robert Paradero (17-0, 11 KOs), de Filipinas en un combate que la OMB acaba de anunciar para establecer al retador mandatorio de Saludar.

El clasificado #1 por la OMB en el peso junior mediano Dennis Hogan (27-1-1, 7 KOs), ha sido aprobado por unanimidad para ser nombrado el retador mandatorio del invicto campeón de la OMB Jaime Munguia, de México. Primero Hogan tendrá que ganar su próxima pelea que será el 15 de diciembre en Australia. Su oponente lo será Jaime Weetch (12-2, 5 KOs).

El invicto campeón mundial de la OMB en las 122 libras Isaac Dogboe defenderá su cetro ante el clasificado #2 Emanuel Navarette para el sábado, 8 de diciembre.

Dicho combate fue declarado como defensa mandatoria. Un movimiento que le da a Dogboe más flexibilidad con respecto a la defensa del título, suponiendo que le gane a Navarette.

Con la pelea declarada como defensa mandatoria, Dogboe tendrá nueve meses después de la pelea contra Navarette antes de que la OMB le solicite que haga una defensa mandatoria. Esto abre el posible escenario para que Dogboe pueda defender su título en Ghana para el año 2019, escenario que su equipo de trabajo ha comentado por mucho tiempo.

En las 115 libras, los filipinos Aston Palicte (24-2-1, 20 KOs) y Donnie Nietes (41-1-5, 23 KOs) pelearon el mes pasado en una pelea por el título mundial vacante de la OMB, pero el duelo terminó en empate.

La OMB aprobó que Nietes se enfrentará al clasificado #3 Kazuto Ioka (23-1, 13 KOs) de Japón, por el título mundial vacante de la OMB y Palicte se medirá al cuarto clasificado José ‘Chiquiro’ Martínez (20-0-2, 13 KOs) de Puerto Rico, en una pelea eliminatoria donde el ganador obtendrá la posición obligatoria por el título mundial.

Otro pleito que fue aprobado es en los pesos cruceros entre Maksim Vlasov (42-2, 25 KOs) de Russia y Krzysztof Glowacki (30-1, 19 KOs) de Polonia, por el título interino de la OMB, esto como parte de la ‘World Boxing Super Series’, a celebrarse el 10 de noviembre en Chicago.

Por otro lado, el representante de la Comisión de Boxeo de Japón Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, le pidió a la OMB que la próxima Convención sea celebrada en Tokyo, Japón. El pedido fue aprobado por la OMB mediante los miembros del Comité Ejecutivo y escogieron a Puerto Rico como segunda opción en caso de que se cancele.

Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions is handling the highly anticipated return of the widely acclaimed SUPERFLY series set for Saturday, September 8 at the ‘Fabulous’ Forum in Los Angeles, CA. The triple-header will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT. (photos by Tom Hogan/Hogan Photos).

For the vacant WBO Jr. Bantamweight World Title, four-time world champion DONNIE ‘The Snake’ NIETES, (41-1-4, 23 KO’s), of Bacolod City, Philippines, moves up one division to challenge countryman ‘Mighty’ ASTON PALICTE, (24-2-0, 20 KO’s) of Bago City, Philippines.

Nietes, who has won the WBO Mini Flyweight and WBO Jr. Flyweight World titles is looking to be a WBO three division champion, with a victory over Palicte. ( Nietes has also won the IBF Flyweight World Title )

Oscar De La Hoya (130 lbs, 135 lbs, 160 lbs), Miguel Cotto (140 lbs, 147 lbs, 154 lbs), Jorge Arce (108 lbs, 115 lbs, 122 lbs), Fernando Montiel (112 lbs, 115 lbs, 118 lbs) and recently Terence Crawford (135 lbs, 140 lbs, 147 lbs) are the only fighters who have won WBO crowns in three different divisions. *Female boxer Amanda Serrano has won WBO World titles in 4 divisions*

Advance tickets for SUPERFLY 3, priced at $150, $100, $75, $50 and $25 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster.com, 1-800-745-3000) and the Forum Box Office. The Forum is located at 3900 W. Manchester Blvd, Inglewood CA 90305. Doors on the night of the event will open at 4:00 p.m. PT.

360 Promotions kicked off a full schedule of events for fans and media leading up to the highly anticipated SUPERFLY3 world championship, international boxing card by hosting a ‘Meet and Greet’ at the Filipino Community Center in Los Angeles. Among those on-hand to meet the large crowd of fans and media were three-division world champion and #1 world ranked Donnie ‘The Snake’ Nietes, #2 world ranked contender ‘Mighty’ Aston Palicte, women’s world title challenger ‘Bang Bang Lulu’ Louisa Hawton along with 360 Promotions’ President Tom Loeffler and Event Host Cynthia Conte.

Doors on the night of the event will open at 4:00 p.m. PT. The triple-header will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.

For the vacant WBO Jr Bantamweight World Title, four-time world champion DONNIE ‘The Snake’ NIETES, (41-1-4, 23 KO’s), of Bacolod City, Philippines, moves up one division to challenge countryman ‘Mighty’ ASTON PALICTE, (24-2-0, 20 KO’s) of Bago City, Philippines.

Nietes:

“This fight represents a lot to me as I will seeking my fourth world championship in a fourth different weight division. Winning the world title will put me at the level of Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire and will add worldwide recognition to my career.”

“I believe my fight with Aston has a very real possibility of being the best fight of the night. We are both training very hard and I am sure that we will be at our very best on September 8 and will give all the fans a great fight.”

“I would be worried if we were playing basketball, but this is boxing and I know how to fight taller opponents and that is why we are working so hard in the gym. I think it’s very important that Filipino boxing has reached the level where we fight for a world title against each other and at a historic venue like the Forum and on HBO.”

Palicte:

“I am happy to have the opportunity to fight for a world championship on such a big card and to be on HBO. The fact the we are both Filipino doesn’t matter, we are both here to do a job and no matter what happens we will still be friends after the fight.”

“I have worked very hard to get here and I want to give the fans the best fight possible and I also believe that our fight could be the best of night as we both have a lot at stake on September 8.”

Nietes, who has won the WBO Mini Flyweight and WBO Jr. Flyweight World titles is looking to be a WBO three division champion, with a victory over Palicte. ( Nietes has also won the IBF Flyweight World Title )

Oscar De La Hoya (130 lbs, 135 lbs, 160 lbs), Miguel Cotto (140 lbs, 147 lbs, 154 lbs), Jorge Arce (108 lbs, 115 lbs, 122 lbs), Fernando Montiel (112 lbs, 115 lbs, 118 lbs) and recently Terence Crawford (135 lbs, 140 lbs, 147 lbs) are the only fighters who have won WBO crowns in three different divisions.

Advance tickets for SUPERFLY 3, priced at $150, $100, $75, $50 and $25 can be purchased HERE. The Forum is located at 3900 W. Manchester Blvd, Inglewood CA 90305. Doors on the night of the event will open at 4:00 p.m.

Photo by Tom Hogan/Hogan Photos

(Source: Boxingscene.com)

Nietes and Palicte are scheduled to fight for the vacant WBO Junior Bantamweight World Championship on the upcoming HBO and 360 Promotions-presented SuperFly 3 card at The Forum in Los Angeles, California this September 8th (September 9th, Manila time).

Three-division world champion Nietes will be making his much-awaited debut in the Jr. Bantamweight division.

For the 36-year old Murcia, Negros Occidental native, who still holds the distinction for being the longest-reigning Filipino boxing world champion during his undisputed reign in the light flyweight division, his bout with Palicte serves as another opportunity to showcase his world-class talents to a much bigger audience.

“Excited na excited kasi nabigyan ulit ako ng opportunity na makapag-laban dito sa SuperFly,” Nietes told ABS-CBN News’ Steve Angeles during the SuperFly 3 press conference in Hollywood, Wednesday evening. “This is a bug card, malaking tuwa ko na lalaban ako ulit dito sa US, ipapakita ko naman yung talent namin dito sa US.”

This will be Nietes’ second consecutive fight in the United States, coming off a successful IBF Flyweight World Championship defense against Juan Carlos Reveco at SuperFly 2 back in February, also at The Forum.

While Nietes has long been a household name in the Philippines, many saw the ALA Promotions star’s dominant performance as a coming out party of sorts.

This time, Nietes finds himself matched up agaisnt a fellow Filipino, who’s hungry for a world championship as well, in Palicte.

Originally scheduled to be the headliner for a Pinoy Pride card in Cebu this August, 360 Promotions founder Tom Loeffler saw the opportunity to bring a pair of world-class Pinoy boxers on a much bigger stage.

“When we had an opportunity in September 8th to put on a triple-header on HBO, I told peter Nelson of HBO that this is one of the best fights in the super flyweight division, for a WBO world championship and he agreed,” Loeffler said. “Donnie had a great performance in SuperFly 2. Aston now has the opportunity to fight for a world title at 115-pounds. I think it’s a tremendous matchup for these two great Filipino fighters.”

Aside from the obvious prestige that comes with fighting for a world title, Palicte also has the opportunity to face off against not only a kababayan, but also someone he’s looked up.

“Dati, bata pa ako, siya medyo matanda na sa akin, nakikita ko na sila, ina-idolize ko na sila. Hanggang ngayon, magkalaban na kami.”

For the 27-year old Bago,Negros Occidental-native, it’s purely business.

“Trabaho yan, part ng trabaho. Sa taas ng ring siguro iba, at pagkatapos ng laban, iba rin. Magkaibigan, pero wala eh, wala tayong magagawa, trabaho lang. Sports lang.”

This will be the second all-Filipino world title fight this year, five months after reigning champion Jerwin Ancajas defended his IBF Super Flyweight World Championship against Nietes’ ALA Promotions stablemate Jonas Sultan.

And while Nietes would rather not have to face a compatriot, like Palicte said, it’s simply business.

“Filipino versus Filipino ang laban, so wala tayong magagawa dun kasi mandatory, so dapat maglaban. Ang sa amin lang, ipakita lang namin yung talento namin, yung galing namin atsaka yung magandang laban namin, ipakita namin sa mga tao, sa mga boxing fans dito sa US.”

https://sports.abs-cbn.com/boxing/news/2018/08/09/boxing-nietes-palicte-face-ahead-world-title-bout-45463

Photo by Tom Hogan

THREE-time world champion Donnie Nietes left for the U.S. on Saturday where he resumes his training camp a month before he faces compatriot Aston Palicte for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Jr. Bantamweight title.

Nietes was accompanied by trainer Edmund Villamor as they set-up camp once more at the Wild Card gym in Hollywood, California, where they initially trained for almost a month before returning to the country last June.

Lead trainer Edito Villamor will join them in California two weeks before the 12-round fight which serves as the co-featured match of the highly-popular ‘Superfly 3’ series headlined by the Juan Francisco Estrada-Felipe Orucata showdown at The Forum in Inglewood, California on Sept. 8

“Maganda ang takbo ng training niya and preparado talaga siya as always,” Edito Villamor said in a correspondence with SPIN.ph from Cebu.

The second world title fight involving two Filipinos this year – after the Jerwin-Ancajas-Jonas Sultan International Boxing Federation super-flyweight clash in May – was originally scheduled for August 18 in Cebu City, but was made part of the ‘Superfly 3’ at the last-minute.

Edito said the change in the fight date hardly affected the training of the 36-year-old Nietes, who hails from Murcia, Negros Occidental and considered the star fighter of Cebu-based ALA boxing stable.

The three-week postponement, according to Edito, was actually to the benefit of Nietes, who formerly held titles at minimumweight, junior flyweight, and flyweight, and is moving up at super-flyweight for the first time.

“Walang problema (sa postponement),” he said. “Mas maganda rin kay Donnie at maka-adjust pa siya lalo ng husto.

“Tamang-tama rin siya sa 115 lbs.”

Nietes, who has won the WBO Mini Flyweight and WBO Jr. Flyweight World titles is looking to be crowned in a third division by the WBO, with a victory over Palicte in the Jr. Bantamweight division. ( Nietes has also won the IBF Flyweight World Title )

Oscar De La Hoya (130 lbs, 135 lbs, 160 lbs), Miguel Cotto (140 lbs, 147 lbs, 154 lbs), Jorge Arce (108 lbs, 115 lbs, 122 lbs), Fernando Montiel (112 lbs, 115 lbs, 118 lbs) and recently Terence Crawford (135 lbs, 140 lbs, 147 lbs) are the only fighters who have won WBO crowns in three different divisions.

The 27-year-old Palicte, a former national team member, has a record of 24-2 with 20 KOS, including three of his last four fights.

https://www.spin.ph/boxing/donnie-nietes-us-wildcard-gym-aston-palicte-wbo-title-fight-a793-20180805

Date:   Saturday, May 28, 2016

WBO JR. FLYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE BOUT

Location:   University of St. La Salle Coliseum, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines

Promoter:   ALA Promotions / Michael D. Aldeguer

Supervisor:

Referee:

Judges:

Results:  The WBO Jr. Flyweight Champion Donnie Nietes retained the title against Raul Garcia by KO in the fifth round.

TV:

nietes-garcia-GR-052716 Donnie Nietes vows not to disappoint provincemates in his defense of his WBO title against Mexican Raul Garcia. Photo by:  Gerry Ramos

BACOLOD CITY – Donnie Nietes sees twin brothers Raul and Ramon Garcia as almost the same fighters. And it goes without saying he expects the same result for him when he stakes his World Boxing Organization (WBO) light-flyweight crown on the line.

The beloved son of Negros Occidental vowed not to disappoint against the cocky Raul Garcia in their 12-round title match at the La Salle Coliseum on Saturday night, almost five years since he beat the Mexican challenger’s sibling via a unanimous decision in exactly the same fight venue.

And unlike that 2011 championship bout in which Nietes, now 33, came close to going down in the last few rounds after losing steam in the stretch, he said the same won’t happen to him this time around.

“Grabe ang strength and conditioning na ginawa namin,” admitted Nietes after some carbo oading following the official weigh-in on Friday afternoon for Pinoy Pride 36: A Legend in the Making at the Robinson’s Place here.

“Dati kinakapos ang stamina ko. Before parang five or six rounds lang tayo. Ngayon, pinag-aralan talaga namin paano makaabot ng 12 rounds (yung stamina ko),” said the longest reigning Filipino world champion of all time, who tipped the scale at exactly 108-lbs.

That’s exactly what happened to him against Ramon Garcia Hirales, when he had to rely on heart and sheer will to survive the late onslaught by the Mexican to win his second world title which he holds until today.

Raul was at ringside that same night, and believes his brother did enough to win the fight.

“He remembers the fight very well. It was a very close fight, and he believes his brother should have won by one or two points, but the judges gave it to Nietes,” said one of Raul’s cornermen.

“Revenge is very much on his mind. Revenge for the honor of his brother and the honor of the country,” he added of the challenger, who also came in at 108 lbs for the main event of the boxing card put up by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports.

Raul trained almost five months for a shot at another world title in a second weight division, establishing his camp in a desert near Mexico City located 3,000 miles above sea level.

In all, the former WBO minimumweight champion (36-3-1, 22 KOs) worked 160 rounds of sparring to prepare for the bout.

“There’s no one who’s got balls than the Mexican fighters. if Donnie stays in the middle and fights like a man, he’s gonna knock him out,” said Garcia’s interpreter. “But Donnie will fight and run. So he’s ready for both, whether he runs or he stays in front of me.”

Nietes said fighting style wise, Raul and Ramon are just the same.

“I think same lang sila, lookalike and style,” said the champion (37-1-4, 21 KOs), who’s making the ninth defense of his title.

The pride of the municipality of Murcia, said he’ll be very patient this time unlike during his fight with Ramon Garcia before.

“Ang mind-set ko talaga huwag mag-madali, relax lang tayo. Maging patient and maghanap ng paraan paano tayo manalo,” he said.

Once inside the ring, though, Raul said Nietes will realize he’s a different animal than his brother.

“My style and my brother is different,” said Garcia. “I’m very confident I’m gonna come out the winner.”

In the main undercard, Arthur Villanueva and Mexican Juan Jimenez both made weight for their WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight championship fight. Villanueva tipped in at 117.5 lbs., while Jimenez was at 118 lbs.

Milan Melindo however, came in four lbs. over the weight limit for his flyweight match against another Mexican in Maximino Flores. The native of Cagayan de Oro City weighed 114 lbs. to the 110 of Flores, although camps of both fighters agreed to go on with the fight using bigger gloves, and possibly, a corresponding fine on Melindo.
www.spin.ph/boxing/news/donnie-nietes-sees-nothing-different-between-raul-garcia-and-twin-brother-ramon-predicts-to-retain-wbo-title#H5zbEdhwBFgwJI2b.99

Donnie Nietes

 donnie-nietes-JA-050416

HOME is where the heart is for Donnie Nietes when he puts his World Boxing Organization (WBO) light-flyweight title on the line later this month.

The 33-year-old Filipino will be fighting in front of his provincemates on May 28 at La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod as the featured main event in the 36th edition of Pinoy Pride: A Legend in the Making.

It will be the first bout of Nietes in Negros Occidental since 2011 when he first wrested the 108-lb. title belt with a unanimous decision win over Ramon Garcia Hirales.

“Sobrang excited na,” said the proud son of Murcia, Negros Occidental about his impending homecoming just three weeks from now.

Incidentally, Nietes will be up against Raul ‘Rayito’ Garcia, the twin brother of Ramon Garcia.

Garcia, from Baja, California Sur, Mexico, packs a wallop as the 33-year-old southpaw challenger carries a 38-3-1 record, including 23 by KOs.

Currently on a five-fight win streak, Garcia has a common opponent with Nietes in Moises Fuentes to whom the Mexican lost by split decision in 2011. In contrast, the Filipino champion twice defeated Fuentes via a majority decision (Waterfront Hotel in Cebu, 2013) and by technical knockout (Mall of Asia, 2014).

“Pero siyempre hindi rin tayo basta mag-kumpiyansa,” said Nietes on Wednesday when he faced a select group of mediamen over lunch courtesy of ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports.

Nietes co-trainer Edwin Villamor said the camp of the longest-reigning Filipino world champion ever has repeatedly watched the tape of the Fuentes-Garcia bout.

“Magandang laban, parehong Mexicano,” said the brother of ALA boxing gym head trainer Edito Villamor. “Pero dun pa lang, may idea na kami kung paano siya atakihin.”

Nietes admitted being still 10 pounds over the limit, but sees no problem shedding off the excess weight.

He is already in the final phase of his training, having gone 12 rounds in sparring on Tuesday against heavier sparmates.

The champion’s camp will be in Manila until Saturday when they fly back to Cebu and resume training at the ALA boxing gym.

Nietes plans to be in Bacolod at least two weeks before the 12-round match.

The WBO title holder last fought in October of 2015 when he retained his title belt with a unanimous decision win over Juan Alejo in his first ever U.S. bout held at the StarHub Center in Carson, California.

www.spin.ph/boxing/news/donnie-nietes-ready-to-showcase-talent-before-provincemates-as-he-defends-wbo-title-in-bacolod-

donnie-nietes_3

By Ronnie Nathanielsz –

Mexican promoter Oswaldo Kuchle has informed BoxingScene.com/The Standard that he has “released Raul Garcia to fight Donnie Nietes, the WBO light flyweight champion and the longest reigning Filipino world champion” following the willingness of Zanfer Promotions Fernando Beltran to postpone the mandatory challenge of Moises Fuentes against Nietes for a more lucrative showdown at the StubHub Center in Carson City, California on September 24.

ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told The Standard that he first wants to “agree on what is going to be out there for Fuentes before we can agree on the Garcia fight.”

He said “if we fight Garcia in May we need to discuss the mandatory with Fuentes in September” before confirming the Nietes title defense against Raul Garcia, twin brother of Ramon  Garcia Hirales from whom Nietes won the title by a unanimous twelve round decision at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod City on October 8, 2011.

Aldeguer told us that fight fans in Bacolod were clamoring for Nietes to return to his hometown of Murcia which is on the outskirts of Bacolod. He said “people wanted the fight after all the accomplishments of Donnie.”

If the fight doesn’t take place in Bacolod Aldeguer said the alternative would be the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu.

Aldeguer said Fernando Beltran said he had no objections to the proposal but hadn’t yet formally agreed since they also have to secure the approval of the World Boxing Organization president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel who had earlier directed Nietes to face Fuentes in a   mandatory title defense which would be their third fight after Nietes demolished Fuentes on May 10, 2014, dropping him three times in the 9th  round for a rousing knockout victory at
the Mall of Asia Arena along Manila Bay.

In suggesting that the Nietes-Fuentes mandatory be held in the US, Aldeguer was looking at a big fight with a wider American audience. However, he said if the proposal was disallowed by the WBC president, Nietes was ready to face Fuentes even in Mexico where he defended his minimum weight title successfully on several occasions against  Mexican opponents in their own hometowns.

The 32 year old southpaw Raul “Rayito” Garcia who is ranked No. 11 by the WBO  has a record of 36-3-1 with 22 knockouts. On June 14, 2008, he won the title from  Filipino IBF Minimumweight champion Florante Condes in  a somewhat controversial 12 round split decision after being dropped by Condes in the final round,  in Garcia’s hometown of La Paz, Mexico.

Garcia defended his IBF title four times. He lost the IBF mini flyweight title against South African Nkosinathi Joyi on 26 March 2010 by a unanimous decision.

After losing his IBF title, Garcia went on to win the WBO interim minimumweight title on October 30, 2010 by a split decision against Luis dela Rosa. He was scheduled to face Donnie Nietes on March 12, 2011 for the full championship, however, just two weeks prior to the fight date, Nietes announced that he would be vacating his world title and moving up in weight which resulted in “Rayito” Garcia being elevated to full champion.

On May 30, 2011, he successfully defended the title for the first time by third round TKO against Filipino Rommel Asenjo. Garcia and his brother Ramón made history that on this night when they became the first set of twin brothers to win world title fights on the same card.

http://www.boxingscene.com/donnie-nietes-vs-raul-garcia-agreement-getting-closer–101632

Date:  Saturday – October 17, 2015

WBO JR. FLYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE BOUT

Location: StubHub Center, Carson, California, USA

Promoter:  ALA Promotions / Michael D. Aldeguer

Supervisor:  Richard De Cuir

Referee:  Raul Caiz Jr.,

Judges:  Lou Moret (120-108); Pat Russell (119-109); Marshall Walker (119-109)

Results:  The Champion Donnie Nietes retained his WBO Junior Flyweight title against Juan Alejo by Unanimous Decision (120-108, 119-109, 119-109).

TV:

FullSizeRender Donnie Nietes. Photo by Roy Luarca/INQUIRER –

IT WAS no ordinary boxing bout Donnie Nietes won in retaining his WBO junior flyweight crown in Cebu City on Saturday.

When he got tagged with a hard shot to the head in the 10th round, Nietes tarried and took a deep breath. He appeared on the verge of exhaustion.

How he moved back into the fray, to gamble on an injured hand in the 11th before dominating the 12th round, is the story of a quiet and unassuming Filipino champion gallantly retaining the Philippines’ lone remaining world boxing crown.

Michael Aldeguer, top man at ALA Promotions, said on the eve of the championship bout that expectations were bound to be surpassed, going by the quality of the competition.

After the tight tactical battle, which saw leads shifting sharply, it won’t be an exaggeration to say that they ended up serving what could qualify as a superfight.

The bout could have gone either way until Nietes, who injured his right hand in the sixth round, put up a masterful display of sharpness, courage and composure.

* * *

Of course, the fight did not bring with it monumental purses. That could be a prerequisite for a bout that comes to be called a candidate superbout.

It was, however, rich in great exchanges, full of suspense, a real thriller.

What it lacked in dollar decimals, it more than made up in memorable combat.

* * *

Losing mandatory challenger Francisco Rodriguez, his nose busted and bleeding, predictably protested and cried he should have gotten the decision.

Filipino cycling legend Jesus Garcia Jr., a Nietes die-hard, believed a rematch could prove similarly thrilling.

He, however, laughed off the scores of the second and third judges who gave Nietes final leads of 10 and eight points,  thereby making it appear there was a mismatch. Garcia claimed the 115-113 score submitted by the first judge was apt.

* * *

For the record, the taller, ever-charging Rodriguez gave Nietes some tough time with his swarming offensive.

It was just too bad that, unlike Nietes, he lacked necessary defensive skills.

By the way, there was WBO president Paco Valcarcel presiding gleefully over the awarding of belts.

He sure was never remiss in claiming before the championship that Nietes, who always comes out to fight, is a future Hall-of-Famer.

http://sports.inquirer.net/186867/donnie-nietes-wins-a-superfight

Date:   Saturday,  July 11, 2015

WBO JR. FLYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE BOUT

Location:  Cebu City Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines

Promoter:  ALA Promotions / Michael D. Aldeguer

Supervisor:  Francisco Valcarcel, Esq.

Referee:  Russell Mora

Judges:  Robert Hecko  (119-109);  Benoit Roussel  (115-113);  Lisa Giampa  (118-110)

Results:   The WBO Jr. Flyweight champion Donnie Nietes retained the crown against Francisco Rodriguez Jr. by Unanimous Decision.

TV:  Philippines ABS-CBN   Channel 2

CJdpIWZUcAIWmog  By:  Nate Loop –

If there’s one thing Filipino boxing star Donnie “Ahas” Nietes (35-1-4, 21 KOs) knows how to do, it’s put on a show in front of his adoring fans in his home country.

Nietes has never lost fighting in the Philippines, and he will put that perfect record to the test on Saturday when he defends his WBO world light flyweight title against Francisco “Titanium” Rodriguez Jr. (17-2-1, 11 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round bout to headline Pinoy Pride 31.

The bout will serve as Nietes’ seventh defense of the WBO title. He is the longest-reigning Filipino world titleholder ever, per RingTV.com’s Anson Wainwright.

The venue is the Cebu City Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu City, Philippines. Nietes has fought five times in his career at this venue, most recently a seventh-round retirement win over Carlos Velarde in November 2014.

Rodriguez is an exciting young scrapper and should prove to be tough matchup for the battle-tested Nietes. This bout will be the 21-year-old’s second in Cebu City; he’ll no doubt face a hostile crowd loudly backing its homegrown star.

Here’s a look at the viewing info, followed by a quick preview of the carnage to come.

Nietes vs. Rodriguez Fight Info

Date: Saturday, July 11

TV: ABS-CBN (Philippines), BeIN Sports Espanol (per ESPN’s Dan Rafael)

Time: 12 a.m. ET on BeIN Sports Espanol (tape delay)

Live Stream:  BelN Sports Connect (subscription required)

Fight Preview

Last we saw Nietes in the squared circle, he was busy working over Gilberto Parra in the famed Smart Araneta Coliseum, knocking him down in the eighth round and forcing a retirement in the ninth. It’s been quite some time since Nietes has even seen the scorecards in a bout.

He’s earned stoppages in five of his last six matches, with only Moises Fuentes surviving 12 rounds of Nietes’ sharp counterpunching to scrape out a mixed-decision draw in March 2013 (for the record, Nietes knocked him out just over a year later).

Even on the wrong side of 30, Nietes has shown little sign of slowing down. Ahas certainly still has his bite.

That said, the drive and hunger of a young boxer have toppled an elder opponent many times before. Rodriguez’s record shows he is no slouch, as he quickly worked his way up the ranks in the strawweight/minimumweight division, unifying the WBO and IBF world belts in that class against Katsunari Takayama in August 2014.

BoxingScene.com’s Cliff Rold noted Rodriguez’s bouts are capable of delighting fight fans:

“Matched with Japanese veteran Katsunari Tayakama, Rodriguez had a chance to add the IBF belt to his mantle in a rare 105 lb. unification title. The action was breathless and breathtaking, so thrilling that the great Julio Cesar Chavez rose from his position as a television announcer to cheer for both en in the final round as they let loose well over 100 punches apiece.”

With an opponent like that, it’s little wonder that Nietes’ staff is saying all the right things in the buildup to this bout.

“He [Nietes] is faster, stronger and wiser than his previous bouts, but it doesn’t mean that we are counting Rodriguez out. We know that he prepared very well in this fight because he is very determined to be a world champion too,” said trainer Edito Villamor, per Josef T. Ramos of the Manila Times.

Nietes was still putting time in at the gym as of Thursday, per Rappler.com’s Ryan Songalia:

Nietes will have to rely on every ounce of his experience and guile in the ring to outwit and outhit Rodriguez. Although the latter is moving up in weight class and will be fighting in front of an unfriendly crowd, there isn’t much to suggest that the occasion will faze him.

He’s already fought and won at this location and knows from his strawweight days what it’s like to be a champion. Nietes has but a half-inch reach advantage—65.5″ to 65″, per BoxRec—and both pugilists fight orthodox. This one will likely see Rodriguez trying to push the boxer 12 years his elder early on, testing his stamina.

If Nietes can pace out the fight properly, he should teach Rodriguez a lesson or two in the later rounds. It could be a close bout, one that should provide plenty of eye-popping moments for boxing fans.

Nietes is probably overlooked in the United States and Europe, seeing as his biggest bouts aren’t televised on major outlets and he’s almost always fighting in the Philippines, but as he told Wainwright  after his win over Parra back in March: “There is more to Filipino boxing than Manny Pacquiao.”

Ring Magazine ranks him as the best boxer in the light flyweight ranks. Rodriguez, new to the class, is already 10th in Ring’s estimation. Nietes has done more than enough to justify the praise. Another win over a determined young scrapper would only serve to bolster his already ironclad legacy in Filipino boxing.

Rodriguez might stand to benefit more than Nietes on a global scale should he win. He can take a newfound title back to Mexico and find a host of challengers waiting for him. At his age, reaching the mountaintop in two weight classes would make him quite the draw, even outside of his native country.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2518606-donnie-nietes-vs-francisco-rodriguez-fight-time-date-live-stream-and-tv-info

 

 

Nietes_Monico.300w  By Jerome S. Galunan Jr. –

BACOLOD CITY, Philippine – Finally, the much awaited face-off between the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) and Ring magazine junior flyweight champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes (35-4-1, 21KOs) and Mexican challenger and former unified WBO/International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight world champ Francisco Rodriguez, Jr. (17-2-1,11KO’s) will be realized today a both fighters set to meet in today’s press conference for the Pinoy Pride 31: Clash of World Champions in Cebu City.

Nietes, who hailed from Bacolod and Murcia and also the longest reigning Filipino champion, in a report said that he is looking forward to avenge the loss of his friend, stablemate and fellow Negrense Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo – who lost to Rodriguez last year.

The erstwhile WBO mnimumweight champion Sabillo surrendered his belt to Rodriguez after downed in the 10th round in their title fight in Mexico.

Nietes has been in tough training in ALA gym in Cebu since April to prepare for his face-off with Rodriguez on Saturday, July 11, at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

ALA gym’s lead trainer Edmund Villamor has stressed that Nietes has the edge over the Mexican when the bell rings.

“Donnie (Nietes) is more experienced than Rodriguez. He has also an edge in skills, speed and power. And, most importantly has the home court advantage,” Villamor said.

In any sport, home court is always an advantage in which gave an athlete more confidence in fighting before his home crowd. However, this doesn’t apply that much to Nietes as he is also undefeated in all his fights in Mexico – beating down his opponents despite the pressure from the home fans.

But, Villamor reiterated that they won’t be that complacent against Rodriguez as he is a former champion who has an impressive record against Filipino fighters.

Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella yesterday said that he believes that Nietes will prevail in this fight. “I know Donnie [Nietes] will prevail in this match because he possesses the proper motivation and guidance under my former [basketball] coach, Antonio’Bidoy’ Aldeguer. And, Donnie has the heart and the will to win,” Puentevella said.

Murcia town Mayor Andrew Montelibano also foresees similar result on the Nietes-Rodriguez face-off. “With the kind of conditioning and training he is in, I believe Donnie [Nietes] will retain his title. I am in contact with him personally and I can see he is more ready than ever,” Montelibano said.

Also featured in Pinoy Pride 31 is co-main event Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo alongside another promising young prospect Kevin Jake Cataraja.

The undefeated Magsayo (10-0) will face Mexican Rafael Reyes (16-4) for the vacant IBF Youth featherweight title while, Cataraja meets Indonesian Ardi Tefa for a 6-round clash.

 

Date:  Saturday – March 28, 2015

WBO JR. FLYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE BOUT

Location:   Araneta Coliseum, Barangay Cubao, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Promoter:    ALA Promotions / Michael D. Aldeguer

Supervisor:  Leon Panoncillo, Jr.

Referee:   Jack Reiss

Judges:   Takeo Harada (JPN), William Lerch (OH),  Max DeLuca (CA)

Results:   Nietes won a twelve rounds bout over Gilberto Parra after he retired in the ninth round on Mar. 28, 2015.

TV:  

donnie-nietes-20150325_64965F63EFC6491388317CDD2D2DE667

By:  Abac Cordero –

MANILA, Philippines – Reigning WBO light-flyweight champion Donnie Nietes said he’s ready for anything that his Mexican opponent will bring to the table.

“Whatever he does, I’m ready for it,” the longest-reigning Filipino world champion said in anticipation of Saturday’s fight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Nietes is scheduled to climb the ring against Gilberto Parra and he’s out to stretch his amazing run of 23 straight wins in over 11 years.

He has not lost a fight since September of 2004 when he faced an Indonesian opponent who climbed the ring six pounds over the weight limit.

Nietes recently surpassed the record of the great Gabriel “Flash” Elorde as the longest-reigning Pinoy world champion at seven years and three months.

Edmond Villamor also told The STAR that based on their studies, Parra has the tendency to shift from being a slugger to a boxer.

“Parra carries both styles,” said Villamor in Filipino.

“Minsan pumapasok pero minsan boxer at nag-aabang lang,” he said, adding that Nietes had done everything in training.

Nietes went over a hundred rounds in sparring since January, just enough for him to declare that he’s “100 percent ready” for the fight.

The pride of ALA Boxing Promotions will bring with him a long and impressive record of 34 wins, four draws and a single loss (with 20 knockouts).

He said a knockout will come if Parra comes in.

“If he moves in, I may knock him out,” said Nietes.

But it’s easier said than done because Parra is a knockout artist himself. Of his 19 wins and two defeats, 17 came by knockout.

“We know the history of Nietes with Mexican fighters, and I admire him. But everything has an ending, and the end will come for Nietes on Saturday,” said the Mexican.

“He has good record. But we were able to go over his style,” said Nietes, who will share the spotlight with Nonito Donaire in this Pinoy Pride presentation.

Donaire is out to bounce back from a loss to Nicholas Walters last October, and had gone down to 122 pounds.

The five-division world champion takes on Brazilian William Prado, seeking a victory and perhaps another shot at the super-bantamweight crown.

“Everything is great. I’m doing good,” he said.

http://www.philstar.com/sports/2015/03/26/1437676/nietes-ready-rumble-against-mexican

nietes.receives.ring.belt.300w

By Rene Bonsubre, Jr. –

MANILA – WBO junior flyweight champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes was presented the Ring magazine lineal world title belt by the publication’s correspondent Anson Wainwright during the final press conference for PINOY PRIDE 30: D-Day at the Solaire Resort and Casino.

The magazine known as the “Bible of Boxing” recognized Nietes as the world champion in the 108 lb division when he stopped Moises Fuentes of Mexico in nine rounds in their rematch at the Mall of Asia Arena last May 10,2014.

He has since defended his title again by seventh round TKO against another Mexican, Carlos Velarde in Cebu City. Nietes(34W-1L-4D,20KO’s) is due for another Mexican opponent Gilberto Parra (19-2,17KO’s), this Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

The 32 year old Nietes also broke the 7 year 3 month barrier set by the great Flash Elorde at the start of 2105. In this span where he reigned at minimumweight from 2007 to 2010 before moving up to win a title at junior flyweight, Nietes has beaten ten Mexican opponents.

But his latest challenger Parra is unfazed. Despite the fact that he was not the first reported opponent for Nietes – it was another Mexican fighter, Luis Ceja – Parra stated that he has trained adequately for this title fight.

Nietes was also not bothered by the change in opponents. During the presscon he said that he has seen the tapes of Parra and has prepared for his power right hand. Nietes is confident that his opponent will fall.

Set to appear on this card is multi-division champ Nonito “The Filipino Flash’ Donaire (33-3,21KO’s), who will be going for the NABF super bantamweight title against Brazilian William Prado (22-4-1,15KO’s).

Nietes said that it is a big honor to be fighting in a card with a superstar like Donaire.

Also set to appear at the Big Dome this Saturday are “Prince’ Albert Pagara, who will defend his IBF Inter-continental 122lb division title against Mexican Rodolfo Hernandez, Ryo Akaho of Japan and Prosper Ankrah of Ghana for the WBO International bantamweight title, AJ ‘Bazooka’ Banal will be pitted against Junior Bahawa of Indonesia (8 rounds), Joepher Montano of Bacolod City vs Tyson Maher of Australia (4 rounds), Jeson Umbal vs Eric Panza (8 rounds) and Ralph Lulu vs Gerry Patenio (4 rounds).

http://philboxing.com/news/story-105737.html

nietes.murcia.150222.300w

Credit:  Photo by Archie Alipalo –

By Ronnie Nathanielsz –

There’s been another change in the opponent of WBO light flyweight champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, the longest reigning Filipino world champion who is scheduled to defend his title at the classy Mall of Asia Arena on March 28 in a blockbuster card that will also feature the comeback fight of five division champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire.

While Nietes was preparing to defend his title against Mexico’s Luis Ceja, the WBO Championship Committee chairman Luis Batista Salas on January 29 informed ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer and Zanfer Promotions Fernando Beltran that Nietes had to face mandatory challenger Francisco Rodriguez Jr also of Mexico.

The WBO official notified both parties that they were given 30 days to negotiate an agreement and if they failed to do so a Purse Bid would be called within ten days.

Aldeguer consulted Nietes and his team and said they were willing to face Rodriguez although he suggested that Nietes be allowed to fight Ceja as originally planned on March 28 and face Rodriguez in July.

On Monday, Aldeguer learned that Rodriguez “wasn’t ready to fight on March 28” and that Nietes will now defend his title against Gilberto Parra who is ranked No. 13 and Nietes will fight Rodriguez in a mandatory title defense on July 4.

Aldeguer informed the Manila Standard/Viva Sports “we have not signed the contract as yet but hopefully we should get it done by tomorrow (Wednesday).”

The merry-go-round once again highlights the difficulty Filipino promoters have in dealing with Zanfer while it also raises the question as to why the WBO insisted on a mandatory title defense when the challenger was not ready.

Parra has an impressive record of 17 knockouts in 19 wins with one of his losses suffered at the hands of Martin Tecuapetla who scored a lopsided ten round decision on November 2, 2013.

Tecuaptela is the same fighter who dropped a ten round majority decision against Milan Melindo in a clash for the WBO International title on May 10, 2014.

In his last fight on February 14 this year, Parra was cut on his left eye in the 2nd round of a scheduled ten round bout against Maximino Flores with the bout declared a “no contest.”

http://philboxing.com/news/story-104423.html

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Donnie Nietes and Nonito Donaire Jr. will be enshrined into the Elorde Boxing Hall of Fame for being Elorde Boxers of the Year for seven consecutive years since 2008 during the 15th Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Memorial Boxing Awards and Banquet of Champions on March 25 at Manila Hotel.

Nietes , the current WBO light flyweight world champion, has given the Philippines pride and honor as WBO minimumweight champion (2008), WBO strawweight titlist (2009) and IBF light flyweight champion from 2010 to 2014.

Donaire also became the toast of pro boxing as IBF flyweight (2008-2010), WBC and WBO bantamweight (2011), WBO and IBF super bantamweight (2012) and WBO super bantamweight (2013-14) world champion.

The Elorde Hall of Fame is Philippine pro boxing’s highest honor accorded only to seven-time Boxer of the Year awardees. The first Hall of Fame honoree was Manny Pacquiao in 2008.

“We use seven consecutive years as the yardstick since Bai Elorde was world junior lightweight champion for seven consecutive years from 1960-to 1967,” said Laura Elorde, wife of the boxing great.

Nietes20131203.crop

MANILA, Philippines – RING and WBO  junior flyweight champion Donnie Nietes will defend his titles against Luis Ceja on March 28 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Philippines, Nietes’ promoter told RingTV.com.

Nietes (34-1-4, 20 knockouts) of Bacolod City, Philippines, has made six defenses of the WBO belt since moving up in weight in 2011, and knocked out Moises Fuentes in May of 2014 to gain lineal recognition.

Ceja (26-5-3, 21 knockouts) of Tlalnepantla, Mexico, has won two straight after a period between 2012 and 2014 where he lost four of his six bouts. Despite Ceja’s inconsistencies, Nietes’ promoter Michael Aldegeur of ALA Boxing feels the 24-year-old is a worthy challenger for the 32-year-old champion.

“We got the contract yesterday (Saturday) so that’s confirmed already,” said Aldegeur. “We’ve heard a lot about [Ceja], he can punch. I think it’s something that we feel would be a good fight for Donnie. He’s a Mexican and a lot of people want to watch a Mexican and a Filipino fighting.”

The bout would be a final voluntary defense before Nietes faces former WBO strawweight titleholder Francisco Rodriguez Jr. in a mandatory defense. Rodriguez (17-2-1, 11 KOs) avenged an earlier draw with Filipino boxer Jomar Fajardo over the weekend, dropping him once en route to a unanimous decision.

Aldegeur says a fight between Nietes and Rodriguez could take place in June, with negotiations likely to begin this coming week.

Also appearing on the card will be former four-division champion Nonito Donaire, who will be returning to the ring for the first time since his knockout loss to Nicholas Walters. Aldegeur says “we have some names coming up” but no opponent has been settled upon.

The fight will be Donaire’s first in his country of birth since 2009, when he knocked out Raul Martinez in four rounds.

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/379585-donnie-nietes-to-face-luis-ceja-on-march-28